Queer Musings

links for 2006-01-30

• Map of Nieuwezijds Kolk 19 Amsterdam, NL by MapQuest
  This is where I'll be staying next week while in Amsterdam. When I booked the hotel, I knew it was close to the Central Station, but I didn't realize how close it was to the Red Light District.
  (tags: Amsterdam Travel)
• Amsterdam Features | Side Trip: Haarlem and Delft | Fodor's Online Travel Guide
  I'm planning a day trip to Haarlem while in Amsterdam. I forgot that New York used to be New Amsterdam, and that Harlem in NYC gets its name from Haarlem in The Netherlands
  (tags: Amsterdam Travel)
• De Oude Kerk Amsterdam
  I find it interesting that the Old Church is in the heart of the Red Light District. I'm looking forward to seeing this. I find Europe fasinating just for the fact that there are things that pre-date American history.
  (tags: Amsterdam Attractions Travel)

links for 2006-01-24

• Views & News on Amsterdam for Gays and Lesbians
  Has some information of interest to GLBT travelers to Amsterdam
  (tags: Amsterdam Gay GLBT Queer Travel)
• YouTube - Drew Barrymore No Bra SNL
  You gotta hand it to Drew, it is great when someone can make fun of themselves...
  (tags: Humor TV)

links for 2006-01-16

• IgoUgo: Travel Reviews, Vacation Pictures, Travel Deals
  (tags: Travel)

Brokeback Ick

A co-worker had me read this article today. It made me think... What would happen if Carmen Electra and Denise Richards made a movie about two women who fall in love?

No matter how bad the acting or the story, the "ick factor" would be way less than "Brokeback Mountain."

Poorly Worded Movie Review

You would think that as father of openly gay physician Dr. Peter Shalit, author of "Living Well, the Gay Man's Essential Health Guide," Gene Shalit's review of "Brokeback Mountain" would have been a little less misguided. Mr. Shalit is one of the few film critics that I usually agree with.

Calling Jack a "sexual predator" in no way describes the relationship I watched. There was a very brief hesitation on the part of Heath Ledger's character Ennis, but the consummation of the relationship was something done between equals.

By making the first move does that the character of Jack a sexual predator?

If the answer to that question is yes, then I guess most of us could be called a sexual predator during some point of our lives. I have made the first move on more than one occasion with someone that I wasn't sure would return, for a lack of better words, the interest I felt in them.

Being less sensitive than GLAAD, I wouldn't really call the remarks as anti-gay or prejudiced. I would, however, say that Mr. Shalit could have made a different choice of words. Jack instigated the relationship, but Ennis was far from being a victim. In actually reading Brokeback Mountain, it is clear that Ennis loved Jack, and felt the same need to continually meet with Jack in order to reaffirm their love and passion for each other.

Shame on you Mr. Shalit, for misleading the movie going public into thinking that the relationship between Jack and Ennis was something other than the love story it was meant to be viewed as.

links for 2006-01-08

• Schiphol.nl - Relaxed op reis
  (tags: Airport Amsterdam Travel)
• Amsterdam | WCities Destination Guide
  (tags: Amsterdam Travel)

links for 2006-01-05

• TiVo.com
  Just got one and I have to say it is probably the best thing since sliced bread...
  (tags: DVR Tivo Television TV)
• Lonely Planet
  (tags: Reference Travel)
• OANDA, The Currency Site: Foreign Exchange Services and Trading
  (tags: Currency Reference Travel)
• Rick Steves Europe Through the Back Door
  (tags: Travel)

Happy 2006

Belated Happy New Year!!!

Ugh, what a start to the New Year, this is today and next Thursday will be the closest thing I have to day off for the next two weeks. Of course I'm making it sound much worse than it really is. Tonight I will only work two and one half hours, and then on Thursday I will work two hours. I live right across the street from work, so taking a couple hours out of my day to help out a friend is not a big deal.

On the bright side, I'll be heading out to Amsterdam at the beginning of next month, so a few extra hours here and there at work will give me a few extra Euros to spend.